Jonas Kaufmann has been making waves at major opera companies on both sides of the Atlantic in recent seasons. With his ardent performances and charismatic stage presence, the Munich-born tenor is now established as one of the world’s most important singers.

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His eagerly awaited role debut as Siegmund in the Metropolitan Opera’s new production of Wagner’s Die Walküre has been widely acclaimed, described by some critics as one of the standout performances of the year. The New York Times review called Kaufmann “handsome and brooding,” and noted “the audience fell in love with the new Met Siegmund” and his “dark, textured and virile voice.”

Kaufmann records exclusively for Decca Classics, which last month issued Verismo Arias, described by Gramophone as “a perfectly recorded and stunning recital.”

1. A few works of classical music that you adore:

The symphonies of Gustav Mahler and Dmitri Shostakovich and always the opera I currently perform (Wagner’s Walküre right now).